Download Ornamental Grasses

AT THE GARDENS
Ornamental
Grasses
months and add a new dimension to the
winter garden. Many are excellent for
use in floral arrangements.
Culture
Ornamental grasses are propagated
from seed or division, and can be
ot since the age of Queen
purchased from local garden stores and
Victoria has the current
popularity of ornamental grasses by mail order (see list of mail order sources
on the next page). Generally, the
been so grand. Scores of ornamental
improved strains, which include most of
grasses are now in use in formal and
the new varieties, will not come true
informal landscapes with many new
from seed and must be propagated from
forms continuously being added to the
divisions. Grasses do not transplant or
palette annually. Perhaps the rise in
propagate well after mid-summer
popularity centers on the aesthetics of
because root growth slows dramatically.
form, texture and color but more
Container-grown plants may be
notable is the group’s practical side – ease
transplanted into the landscape throughout
of maintenance and sensitivity to the
the growing
environment. As
season,
homeowners and
however.
professionals alike
Depending on
become increasingly
the grass variety
aware of nontoxic
the foliage
methods to care for
portion of the
a landscape, many
plant may be
ornamental grasses
cut down to
have an inherent
the ground
ability to handle the
and removed
extremes of drought
each spring. In
and excessive rain.
such cases,
During the
fertilization is
growing season, the
required to
ornamental grasses
compensate
range in height
from 6 inches to 14
or more feet and
can be used as
accent plants,
Cortaderia selloana
ground covers,
screens, border edgings, or as companions for nutrient
with a wide range of flowering herbaceous loss. A 10-1010 fertilizer
plants. Color of foliage in the growing
may be applied
season includes shades of green, green/
at a rate of 1
yellow, green/blue, blue, red, brown,
to 2 pounds
and variegated. Flowers vary in form,
Cortaderia selloana, detail
per 100
size, color and time of bloom thereby
square feet. A good deal of calcium and
providing a wealth of choices. Dried
foliage and flowers on many ornamental magnesium is lost when removing
foliage and a soil test should be done
grasses are attractive and will gracefully
periodically.
sway with the wind in the cooler
N
Cautions
Before placing a grass into the
landscape you should determine if it is
rhizomatous (spreading by underground
stems) or a clump former. Rhizomatous
types make excellent ground covers,
erosion control plants, and dense cover
plantings that resist the invasion of
weeds. The rhizomatous types spread at
different rates laterally, some as much as
twelve or more feet a year. The clump
formers simply increase in circumference
requiring division every two or three
years. Distinguishing between the two
types and locating them in proper sites
will prevent future unwanted problems.
Selections for Central Florida
Given the sunny and rain-filled
environment, one would think that just
about any grass will perform well in
Central Florida. Unfortunately, because
of the sunny and rain-filled climate a
limited number perform with fervor and
enthusiasm. From ongoing trials
performed at Leu Gardens over the last
five years, the staff has determined the
following are best suited for the local
conditions:
Crown Grass (Paspalum quadrifolium):
Hands down the finest medium sized
grass for Central Florida and is a Florida
Nurseryman and Growers Plant of the
Year plant for 2003. It forms a perfectly
rounded mound with blue-gray foliage
to 36" tall and is perfect for the full
sun and a variety of soils. On a scale of
1-10, this is an eleven.
Tiger grass (Thysanolaena maxima): If
you are looking for a tall (to 8') with
graceful seed heads and strong
architectural features, tiger grass fits the
bill. Very large, linear leaves enhance
this clump-forming ornamental grass.
Outstanding and very underutilized.
For full sun to part shade.
Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia spp.): Pink
Muhly (M. capillaris) grows to 36" and
produces dark green foliage topped with
masses of open pink to red panicles. It
is a Florida native. Bamboo Muhly (M.
his book, “… miscanthus are unrivaled
dumosa) grows to 48" and is distinctly
in the diversity and beauty of its flowers,
different from other lacey muhly grasses
foliage, autumn colors and winter
with its bamboo-like effect. Both are
presence… and its ability to survive
very drought tolerant and grow in full
and prosper in some of the most
sun to part shade.
challenging cultural conditions
Quaking Oat Grass (Chasmanthium
imaginable.” There are more than 100
latifolium): The drooping
named selections of
native oat-like seedpods are
Miscanthus but
very attractive in the garden
some notable
and grows to 24" tall in
varieties for Central
Central Florida. It is
Florida include:
tolerant of shade, drought,
Miscanthus sinensis
salt and spreads fairly
‘Adagio’ (to 48",
rapidly. The seeds serve as
thin silver foliage,
food for many types of
pink seed head
wildlife. The dry plants
turns to white,
persist in winter and are
blooms in August),
sometimes used in dry
M. ‘Emerald
flower arrangements. Full
Shadow’ (a green
sun is best for maximum
form of the sickly
seed production.
Miscanthus
Plume or Pampas Grass
‘Cabaret’ without
(Cortaderia selections):
the propensity for
Chasmathium lantifolium
Pampas grass has been
diseases, fresh green
around for years in local landscapes.
foliage to 8', a very strong grower), M.
New selections of this tough grass are
‘Morning Light’ (silver striped, to 6',
worth considering. C. selloana ‘Pumila’
best planted in groups, blooms in
is a great new selection. Like the larger
October), and Miscanthus
form in every way, this is simply a
transmorissonensis (blooms continuously
giant pampas grass in miniature – only
from June – November and perfect for
48" tall. A perfect plant for those small
the small garden). Miscanthus villosum
spaces. Cortaderia selloana ‘Silver Comet’
has very narrow leaf blades to 18" tall
doesn’t look like a pampas grass in that
and the seed head is pure white and very
we have never seen a “plume” produced.
soft and fluffy in appearance. Full sun.
However, the thin graceful arching
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) is a tall
ribbons of foliage are alternately striped
clump forming grass to 8' tall, which
green and white. A very handsome
has been grown for centuries for its
specimen plant for that very special
sweet aromatic roots, used to make
place. C. aureolineata ‘Gold Band’
baskets, furniture, and screens. Vetiver
grows to only 36", does not produce a
oil has long been used as a source for
plume and has alternating green and
perfume. Vetiver is a robust vertical
gold leaf stripes. For a large pampas
grower has a curious habit of folding
grass with an unusual twist why not
over one or two feet from the tip. It
try C selloana ‘Flamingo’ – a full-sized
makes a fine specimen or hedge and
pampas grass but with a delicate pink
performs well as a windbreak. The
8' tall plume. All grow in full sun.
flowers work well in floral arrangements.
Japanese silver grass (Miscanthus selections) Fountain grass (Pennisetum selections) is
is another great group of grasses for
equally as home as Miscanthus varieties.
Central Florida. As Rick Darke says in
If one thinks of grass in Central Florida
this is the group that readily comes to
mind. The most popular is Purple
Fountain Grass (Pennisetum setaceum
‘Rubrum’) and is readily available in
local garden stores. Though it prefers
moist well-drained areas, it can be grown
in drier areas as well. Full sun is a must
and the feathery red-purple plumes are
visible throughout the summer.
Other less-known but equally strong
performers include:
P. ‘Burgundy Giant’ (to six feet, bronzepurple leaves), P. ‘Tall Tails’ (to 48",
creamy long white flowers, blooms
June through frost, strongest for
Central Florida of the white flowered
Pennisetums). Have a small space? Try
Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum
Compact’ (to only 18"– perfect for
the smaller border).
Recommended references:
Grasses, Nancy Ondra
Ornamental Grasses, Rick Darke
Gardening with Grasses, Michael King
The Plantfinder’s Guide to Ornamental
Grasses, Roger Grounds
The Encyclopedia of Ornamental
Grasses, John Greenlee
Recommended Websites:
http://www.forums.gardenweb.com/
forums/grasses
http://pss.uvm.edu/ppp/perpixog.html
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/grasses/
http://sudan.cses.vt.edu/html/Turf/
orngrass.htm
http://www.gramineae.com/plant.htm
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/
Publications/RG401.pdf
Recommended mail order sources:
www.ornamentalgrasssociety.org
www.gardencom.com/tornamental.html
www.hoffmannursery.com/retailcat.shtml
www.limerockgrasses.com
www.earthlypursuits.net